It’s November, and that means the holidays are not very far down the road.

Thanksgiving. Hanukkah. Christmas. Kwanzaa. Festivus.

Whatever you celebrate, it is likely that food is involved.

What does this bring to mind for you?

Do you think any of these thoughts about holiday eating?

1. I only get to eat (fill in favorite holiday foods here) on (insert holiday here)! I’d better eat enough of it!
2. There are so many tempting foods around. How can I resist?
3. I can’t waste this, so I’d better finish what is on my plate.
4. After the holidays, I’ll go on a diet
5. I deserve to eat this!

What is wrong with this type of thinking? It comes from mindset of scarcity.

Here’s what I mean.

Has there been a time in the past few years when you didn’t have enough food to eat?

Is there a shortage of delicious food in your life on a regular basis?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you have a right to approach food from the perspective of scarcity. You don’t have to read further.

But I’m guessing that you probably answered “no” to both of those questions. Chances are that you can buy or prepare delicious food any time. You can stop at the local supermarket and purchase lots of things that you love to eat. You can go to a nearby restaurant and enjoy a good meal. Do you have to go far for take-out, gourmet shops, fast food, bakeries, coffee shops or other sources of sustenance? Perhaps you have lots of great stuff right in your house right now!

If that is the case, you live in a world with an abundance of good food. There is no scarcity for you! So why do you view the holidays like they might be your last meal?

What if you approached the holidays with an abundance mindset? What if you thought:

There is so much good food in my life on a regular basis. The holidays are just another opportunity to enjoy delicious things to eat. I’m going to savor my favorite holiday foods without overeating them. I’m going to be selective because I deserve only the most delicious items.  I also deserve to feel great, and I don’t feel very good when I’m stuffed.

Adopt this abundance mindset, and use the following guidelines to enjoy holiday deliciousness without gaining weight:

1. Give yourself permission to eat the foods you love when you are hungry
2. Eat slowly and reduce distractions when you’re eating so you can savor every scrumptious bite. Remember, you’re eating these foods because they taste great, so don’t divert your attention from the flavor! You can take a few moments from the conversation to enjoy your food.
3. Stop eating before you feel full. You’ll enjoy the food and celebration more without a case of indigestion afterwards.
4. Don’t eat anything you don’t love. You don’t have to please your relatives by eating their specialties. They’ll love you anyway.
5. If you overeat, don’t use that as an excuse to go hog-wild and continue to overeat through the holidays and beyond.
6. Plan ahead. If you know dessert is your favorite cheesecake, eat lighter during the meal.

I’ll write more about planning ahead in next week’s blog, so keep an eye out for it!

If you want help navigating the holidays without gaining weight, join my Facebook group, Ditch the Diet Tribe, or check out my Weight Loss for Foodies programs here.